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Deadly Fuel-Tanker Blast Shuts Bridge of the Americas Near Panama Canal

Canal traffic continues as crews inspect the span.

Overview

  • A fuel-tanker fire at a La Boca depot next to the Bridge of the Americas late Monday local time triggered explosions that shut the span.
  • Fire officials reported one worker dead and said several people were injured, including two firefighters with burn wounds.
  • The blaze was contained after a large deployment of more than 75 firefighters and 45 vehicles cooled nearby tanks.
  • Engineers are conducting structural checks on the bridge, a logistics corridor reopened early Tuesday to ease local travel, and canal transits continue as normal.
  • Investigators say early signs point to a tanker-origin fire with no verified link to sabotage, drawing extra attention because recent Iran tensions have nudged more tanker traffic toward the canal.